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In this module, we’ll cover the fundamentals of IP packet networking.
Bandwidth on circuits and network equipment has become high enough, and delays low enough to successfully carry live voice and video in data packets on data networks, in an achievement of one of the Holy Grails in this business &endash; convergence, where voice, video and data are carried on the same network &endash; telecommunications became what was formerly called data communications.
Accordingly, to understand the modern telecom network, we begin with the fundamentals of what used to be called data communications.
We’ll start with basic circuit configurations, then the need for link addresses and frames on individual circuits, then IP network addresses, packets and routers to connect circuits to form a network. For completeness, we’ll finish with a look at two add-ons to an IP network service: TCP for reliable communications over the unreliable IP network; and MPLS for managing flows of IP packets in the core.
The goal is to build a solid foundation in packet networks and packet communications, which is the basis for everything today, including amongst other things the Internet, the telephone companies’ network core, cellular and Wi-Fi.
Course Lessons
1. Introduction
2. Point-to-Point Circuits: Serial and Parallel
3. Multidrop Circuits: Point to Multipoint
4. LANs and Broadcast Domains
5. Framing and Error Control Requirements
6. Frames & MAC Addresses
7. Networks, Routers and IP Addresses
8. Carrier Packet Network Services
9. IP Packets vs. MAC Frames
10. MAC address vs. IP address hopping from SFO to NYC
11. IPv4 and IPv6 Packets
12. TCP, UDP and Port Numbers
13. MPLS Labels
A course completion certificate is awarded upon passing the course exam.
Based on Teracom’s famous Course 101, tuned and refined over the course of 20 years of instructor-led training, we’ll cut through the jargon to demystify telecom fundamentals, explaining the jargon and buzzwords, the underlying ideas, and how it all works together… in plain English.
Course Outline
In this comprehensive course, you’ll build a solid base of knowledge in networking fundamentals. We'll begin with serial and parallel point-to-point circuits, then identify the need for link addressing and access control on circuits with multiple stations, LANs and how the stations on a LAN form a broadcast domain. We'll understand the need for framing and error control to transmit data, and how this is implemented with MAC frames and MAC addresses. Then we'll define a network, and how it is implemented with WAN circuits, routers and IP network addresses as the basis of routing decisions. Then we'll understand how carrier packet networks are used to implement WAN circuits, the relationship between packets and frames, the IP address on the packet and how the MAC address changes as the packet is forwarded across a network. We'll finish with an overview of IPv4 and IPv6 packet formats, the need for a transport protocol and how TCP is used for reliability, and UDP is used for streaming, and what port numbers are and how they are used. The course is completed with an introduction to MPLS, the traffic management system used on the core of big networks.
1 Introduction
2 Point-to-Point Circuits: Serial and Parallel
Two devices on a circuit communicating bits sequentially, then doing that in parallel
3 Multidrop Circuits: Point to Multipoint
Multiple devices with controller and controlees: need for link addresses and access control
4 LANs and Broadcast Domains
Broadcast domains: communication between peers. LAN switches.
5 Framing and Error Control Requirements
Indicating start and stop. Error checking the destination address.
6 Frames & MAC Addresses
MAC frames communicating between devices in the same broadcast domain
7 Networks, Routers and IP Addresses
IP packets and routers for communicating between devices in different broadcast domains
8 Carrier Packet Network Services
Communicating IP packets over a common carrier (no disrespect intended). CE and PE.
9 IP Packets vs. MAC Frames
How packets and frames go together. IP address vs. MAC address. Packet sizes.
10 MAC address vs. IP address hopping from SFO to NYC
How the MAC address changes as a packet is forwarded from hop to hop
11 IPv4 and IPv6 Packets
The IPv4 packet format and its header fields. The improvements brought by IPv6.
12 TCP, UDP and Port Numbers
Reliable communications over the unreliable IP network for multiple applications
13 MPLS Labels
Brief overview of MPLS. Illustrating the port number, label, IP address and MAC address in the bitstream
Teracom is the leader in telecommunications training. In business since 1992, we supply this training to the US government under our GSA schedule contract, which means pre-approved quality and pricing. We're so confident of the quality of this training, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.